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The Color of Winter

Elk, coyotes, deer, snowshoe hares, and many other mammals remain active in the park through the winter, covered in dense winter coats. Hardy birds stay north for the season, ranging in color from that of winter (the ptarmigan), to that of night (the raven), to a combination that includes both those hues and more (the magpie).

For some active residents of this park, winter is the time to don a coat of splendid white. The short-tailed weasel, also known as the ermine, becomes beautifully white in winter, save for its shiny dark eyes and black tip of tail. The ptarmigan changes from a mottled gray-brown in summer (the color of tundra), to the color of snow in winter. The snowshoe hare also turns mostly white. Some suggestions for places to look for these beautiful wild creatures are: